Read the articles Children's Writing: What's in... and What's (often) Wrong and Do's & Don'ts for Children's Writing.
Answer the questions below.
Qualities of Outstanding Children's Literature
"Good books expand awareness"
Good books help children learn about the world around them. These books help children learn what to call things and what's normal. For examples, a walking-in-another-person's-shoes book helps children to learn about people and how people interact. A places-in-your-neighborhood teaches about places and what happens there (Temple 8).
"Good books provide an enjoyable read that doesn't overly teach or moralize"
Good books keep learning fun. It's okay to write a book with a moral like "tell the truth" or "brush your teeth" but if you're going to write about brushing teeth, you'd better spice it up (Temple 8). "Good books tell the truth"
You can have make believe in your story but be sure it follows a structure that makes sense. For example, fairies usually don't work for NASA and then moonlight as cowboys on weekends. Keep your characters believable (Temple 10).
"Good books embody quality"
Good writers take their time to write children's books. The words, pictures, characters, plot, theme, etc. are carefully chosen (Temple 10).
"Good books have integrity"
All of the words, pictures, characters, plot, theme, etc. work together to make a good book (Temple 10).
"Good books show originality" It's okay to retell Cinderella, but mix it up. Make Cinderella a boy, set it in San Diego, use real pictures instead of illustrations. Good books are unique. They present us with a unique point of view and ask us to think about things in different ways (Temple 10).[1]
Awards for Children's Literature
Caldecott Medal
Best illustrator of a child's book for books published in the previous calendar year. These are picture books.
"A 'picture book for children' as distinguished from other books with illustrations, is one that essentially provides the child with a visual experience. A picture book has a collective unity of story-line, theme, or concept, developed through the series of pictures of which the book is comprised.
A 'picture book for children' is one for which children are a potential audience. The book displays respect for children's understandings, abilities, and appreciations. Children are defined as persons of ages up to and including fourteen and picture books for this entire age range are to be considered.
'Distinguished' is defined as
marked by eminence and distinction: noted for significant achievement
marked by excellence in quality
marked by conspicuous excellence or eminence
individually distinct...." ("Awards and Grants")[2]
Geisel Award (Theodore Suess)
Best author and illustrator of book for beginning readers.
Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal
Best informational (nonfiction) book in the proceeding year.
Questions to Answer
^Temple, Charles, Mariam Martinez, and Junko Yokota. Children's Books in Chilren's Hands: An Introduction to Their Literature. 3rd. ed. Boston: Pearson, 2006.
The Good, Bad & Ugly of Children's Books
Table of Contents
Task for Day 3
Do both tasks below. When you're finished, go to Day 4 or work on your book.Evaluate a Picture Book
- Choose a picture book from either the Caldecott shelf or from any of the eBook sources.
- Choose criteria for evaluating your book. In your opinion what are the most important qualities of a good picture book? Choose at least three.
- Thoroughly evaluate the book giving specific examples from the book you have chosen.
- Turn in your evaluation.
ANDWriting Children's Books: Where do I get Started?
Qualities of Outstanding Children's Literature
"Good books expand awareness"
Good books help children learn about the world around them. These books help children learn what to call things and what's normal. For examples, a walking-in-another-person's-shoes book helps children to learn about people and how people interact. A places-in-your-neighborhood teaches about places and what happens there (Temple 8).
"Good books provide an enjoyable read that doesn't overly teach or moralize"
Good books keep learning fun. It's okay to write a book with a moral like "tell the truth" or "brush your teeth" but if you're going to write about brushing teeth, you'd better spice it up (Temple 8).
"Good books tell the truth"
You can have make believe in your story but be sure it follows a structure that makes sense. For example, fairies usually don't work for NASA and then moonlight as cowboys on weekends. Keep your characters believable (Temple 10).
"Good books embody quality"
Good writers take their time to write children's books. The words, pictures, characters, plot, theme, etc. are carefully chosen (Temple 10).
"Good books have integrity"
All of the words, pictures, characters, plot, theme, etc. work together to make a good book (Temple 10).
"Good books show originality"
It's okay to retell Cinderella, but mix it up. Make Cinderella a boy, set it in San Diego, use real pictures instead of illustrations. Good books are unique. They present us with a unique point of view and ask us to think about things in different ways (Temple 10).[1]
Awards for Children's Literature
Caldecott Medal
Best illustrator of a child's book for books published in the previous calendar year. These are picture books.
Geisel Award (Theodore Suess)
Best author and illustrator of book for beginning readers.
Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal
Best informational (nonfiction) book in the proceeding year.
Questions to Answer